MTs 8

The MTs 8 (МЦ 8) is a Soviet double-barreled high-quality custom skeet shotgun.^[4][5]

MTs 8
Type	double barreled shotgun
Place of origin	USSR
Production history
Designed	1953[1]
Manufacturer	TsKIB SOO[2][3][1]
Specifications
Mass	3.4 - 3.75 kg[2][3]
Barrel length	675mm or 750mm[3][1]
Caliber	12,[2] 20 gauge[3]
Action	Break action[2]
Rate of fire	variable
Sights	iron sights[2][3]

History

MTs 8 was designed in 1953^[1] and produced by TsKIB SOO.^[3]

These shotguns were used by Soviet teams in shooting competitions (incl. ISSF World Shooting Championships and Olympic Games).^[4][1]

In October 1962, at the 38th World Shooting Championships in Cairo, Soviet shooter N. D. Durnev, armed with MTs 8 shotgun, set an absolute world record, hitting 200 of 200 targets.^[6][7]

In September 1981, the price of one standard MTs 8 shotgun (without second pair of barrels) was about 700 roubles.^[5]

Design

MTs 8 is an over and under hammerless smoothbore 12 gauge shotgun, with one barrel above the other.^[2][3][1][5]

It is equipped with safety mechanism and ejector.^[3][5]

All guns have a walnut shoulder stock (with or without cheekpiece) and fore-end,^[5] some of them were decorated with engravings.^[2][3]

Variants

• MTs 8-0 (МЦ 8-0)^[5] - test prototype
• MTs 8-1 (МЦ 8-1)^[1] - first model, a skeet shotgun with 750mm barrels^[2]
• MTs 8-2 (МЦ 8-2)^[1] - second model, with different trigger mechanism^[2]
• MTs 8-3 (МЦ 8-3)^[1] - third model, MTs 8-1 with second pair of 675mm barrels^[2]
• MTs 8-4 (МЦ 8-4)^[1] - MTs 8-2 with second pair of 675mm barrels^[2]

At least several MTs 8 shotguns were equipped with third pair of barrels (20/70mm R).^[3][5]

Museum exhibits

• MTs 8 shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin^[4]